Our Teacher

Introducing: Ms. Rachel!

Hello, my name is Rachel Wood, I will probably be best known to your family as Ms. Rachel. I am very excited to be a part of your preschool community. I am looking forward to a year filled with new experiences for both your children and myself. I know that it can be a little unsettling for families to have a new teacher so here is a little something about myself.

I am 43, married with two kids, Lilly and Finnegan. I live in Tacoma and have lived here for most of the past 20 years. Some of my hobbies include; going for walks, camping, traveling– we just got back from a 10 day road/camping trip with our pop-up trailer, reading a good book, and trying new recipes on my friends and family.

I graduated from Portland State University with a history degree. I worked until my daughter was born then was able to stay home fulltime with our child/children. During their preschool years we sent them to a Cooperative Preschool in Tacoma and loved our experience there. It was during this time that I first started thinking about teaching preschoolers. Once both kids were in school I began to substitute in the Tacoma School District concentrating on preschool programs. I worked in variety of classrooms (Head Start, ECEAP, and Title I) some as long term substitute. That experience reaffirmed my desire to teach children. I am happy to be able to pursue this opportunity with all of you. I look forward to meeting all of you and having a fun year with your children.

The Preschool Teacher's Role

The preschool
teacher is hired and paid by the parents in the preschool and plays a
vital part in the quality of the preschool program. The teacher:

Attends preschool each day the school is in session.

Works
closely with the Home and Family Life instructor at Bates Technical
College regarding educational programs and the needs of the group.

Plans and implements a developmentally appropriate curriculum for the children's preschool, within the NAEYC guidelines.

Sets
up the preschool environment. Directs the preschool's daily schedule,
supervising free play, clean-up, and leads group times with the
children. Checks supplies often and sees that they are purchased.

Directs
the parents in their role as assistant teachers, making suggestions
that will help parents to work effectively in the classroom with
children.

Models appropriate interactions with children, to include factual commenting, redirecting and problem solving.